The Washington State Ferry system has added a new step to the travel routine for those of you visiting us from the mainland: reservations. This can be a wonderful time-saving method for trip planning. Here are the basics about the […]

Welcome to the Salish Sea, L-121, J-51 and J-50! This year’s whale watchers will see three new calves that were born into the Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) family. Here on the Island, news of baby orcas are like hearing a neighbor has successfully given birth. Additional […]

Want fun? Live bands, good food, games, prizes, costumes, nuttiness and family friendly! When: Saturday, September 27, 2014 3 PM – 11 PM Where: Friday Harbor, San Juan Island WA at the Fairgrounds What: Walkers from throughout the community will gather at the Friday […]

“Pre-order a book, Save a whale!” The book — War of the Whales by Joshua Horwitz — tells the story of the twenty-year battle to limit navy sonar in whale habitats. For every member that pre-orders a copy of War of the Whales from the order page […]

Many of you ask about making a reservation for the ferry. Currently the Anacortes – Friday Harbor ferry is first come first served. Only the international crossing to Sidney accepts reservations. But that is going to […]

Over the weekend, orca enthusiasts on the island were thrilled when several members of K-Pod were reported as inbound from an area to the north called Race Rocks. Sure enough, a couple of hours later they were seen making their way down the southern end of San […]

Around these parts, the orcas and seals get a lot of attention, but they aren’t the only species of fascinating and beautiful wildlife that can be found here. Far from it, in fact. Whale-watching may be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think […]

Some environmentally conscious folks have launched a project to find out. The Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the Georgia Straight Alliance have undertaken a research project to find out what would happen if an oil tanker began leaking into the Salish Sea, which is the collective name for […]

One of the hottest films of 2013 wasn’t about an apocalypse, a star-crossed beautiful couple, or superheroes. It was about killer whales. Blackfish, a documentary filmed directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, began as an investigation into the events leading to the death of veteran Sea World trainer Dawn […]

If you’ve been to San Juan Island, chances are that you’ve stumbled upon Sunshine Alley. It’s a rather nondescript pathway that shortens the trip between the main drag in town and Nichols Street, beginning just behind the gap between the movie theater and Haley’s. Mostly, it’s known […]

I’m referring, of course, to the rock on Beaverton Valley road. You may have passed it a million times on your way to and from a sightseeing jaunt here on San Juan Island, and never noticed it before – unless it was painted! “Why would anyone paint […]

Seattle Seahawks fever is higher than it’s ever been, and that is of course because the Hawks are in the Super Bowl for the second time! The first was after the 2005 season, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Hawks were defeated. This game will pit them […]

As you reflect back on 2013, you may remember moments of both triumph and tragedy in your life. You may think about the highs and lows of the year and use those memories to reflect on what you want to change, or what kinds of New Year’s […]

Hi! I hope that all of you folks who celebrate Christmas had a wonderful day. This was my first Christmas away from my family, but fortunately I had some wonderful people on the island who made me feel included, and the day was relaxing and peaceful. We […]

As residents of San Juan Island, we hear plenty about the multitude of wildlife conservation efforts that are a huge part of life here – from shore-based whale-watching, to the annual Christmas Bird Count, to keeping a safe distance from our 4,000+ harbor seals. But there are […]

The months of October and November are not unusual months to see orcas in the San Juan Islands. Although the peak season is May-September, our southern resident community of orcas, most notably J-Pod, tends to stick around and have been sighted every month of the year historically. […]

As islanders, so many of us are entirely dependent on our connections to the outside world, those necessary evils called cell phones and Internet service. For many, it’s the only way we can keep in touch with family, friends, and current events. So the big event this […]

Greetings from the newest blogger for the inn! My name is Libby, and I’ve just joined the team. I’m thrilled to be here, and also thrilled to be experiencing the “off season” here on San Juan Island for the first time. I’ve been coming here during the […]